I know, I know, you’re thinking that this is one good looking motorcycle. But calm down for one second and listen to the specs: 113bhp, 52lb/ft and 163kg/358lbs (dry). Like the F3, this new MV Agusta Brutale 675 is also equipped with a counter-rotating crank and MVICS ride-by-wire and traction control. In Italy, retail is going to be just €8,990, €100 cheaper than the heavier, less powerful Triumph Street Triple R. Wow.

Update: 29 high-res, wallpaper-ready images.

Clearly based on the frame, single-sided swingarm and motor of the MV Agusta F3 675, this new Brutale only appears to cheap out in one area: the suspension. The 43mm, USD forks aren’t listed with a brand name and don’t appear to be adjustable. The no-name shock is only adjustable for preload. But that’s the only spec that isn’t absolutely mouth watering.

The Brutale won’t be available with the F3’s launch control, wheelie control or quickshift, instead coming with only ride-by-wire (switchable engine maps) and eight-mode traction control. The F3 is the first supersport to be equipped with TC, this Brutale is the first 600-ish naked to boast the same.

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163kg and 113bhp is very, very competitive; the Street Triple R weighs 166kg (dry) and makes 105bhp. It doesn’t have the MV’s SSSA, low-mount exhaust, ride-by-wire or TC. The Italian should also be the physically smaller motorcycle, something made possible by the integrated cylinder/crank cases which integrate the water and oil pumps for unprecedented compactness. Like the F3, the steel trellis/aluminum swingarm pivot frame wraps around that compact motor like a second skin. MV CEO Giovanni Castiglioni says, “it’s like a 125.”

The engine retains the new F3’s oversquare, 79x45.9mm bore and stroke dimensions, but max power is shifted down from 14,500 to a less extreme 12,500rpm while max torque remains at 10,600rpm. No dyno charts, but fuller power and torque curves lower down are claimed. No word on the rev limit, but the F3 tops out at 15,000rpm and MV does talk about significant capacity for overrev past peak power. There’s also talk of confidence-inspiring engine feel in both traffic and while riding fast, something that should be enhanced by the counter-rotating crankshaft. Traditionally, motorcycle crankshafts have turned the same direction as the wheels and nothing bad has ever happened. But, if you spin the crank the other way you can use the gyroscopic forces generated by its acceleration and high RPM operation to discourage wheelies and alter handling. It’s supposed to cancel out the effects of reciprocating inertia.

Brakes appear to be the same 320mm discs/Brembo radial calipers/Nissin radial master cylinder arrangement fitted to the F3. And also like the F3, the wheelbase remains an unprecedentedly short 1,380mm, meaning the Brutale should be capable of some very, very easy wheelies.